“Tell me,” Stephen smiled, tapping his fingers on the table, “what do you do for a living?”

“Help run my parents bookstore and cafe. I’m also an author.”

“Published?”

“Very much so,” I nodded, a small smile on my face, “yes I’ve had seven books published. Most are for children though. Talking about gender, pronouns. Things of the like.”

“That’s adorable,” he laughed and I smiled a bit wider, “I’m sure Max would love them.”

“Max?”

“Maddox. My adopted son. Well nephew but he’ll… never see his parents again so I’m raising him as my son. On my own. He's 1. It’s a lot to learn.”

“How old are you, Stevie?”

“25.”

“Ah. Okay. I’m 23. Phoenix and I are. But you know we’re twins so I guess I didn’t need to clarify I… sorry I’m not good at social interaction. The most I have is Phoenix and his fiancé Cove outside of my parents.”

“Social anxiety?”

“It’s mostly the way people look at me because of the way I dress or my eye. Both. It’s the… judgment.”

“That’s their loss,” he smiled gently and I returned it, nerves deep in my heart, “you’re a very interesting person, Hyacinth Williams.”

“Well… thank you,” looking down at the table, I saw his hand resting flat and slowly touched the tips of his fingers with my own, “you’re very kind.”

“I try to be. My mama raised me to be honest and gentle. So I do what I can to make sure people feel safe around me. I’m a little intimidating because I’m so tall.”

“Yeah I noticed that… I’m 6 foot so you’re at least six eight?”

“Six foot ten.”

“Jesus,” I laughed and my cheeks grew warm when he hooked our index fingers together.

“Um… would you like another drink?”

“I shouldn’t but I appreciate the offer…”

“Can I buy you one on a different night? Maybe tomorrow?”

“What about your son? Doesn’t he need his father?”

“He’s with my sister. Safe and warm. She takes him during Friday and Saturday so I can take care of things I need. I bring him to work with me. Wear him on my back in a baby carrier.”

“A hair salon isn’t the safest place for a… Phoenix!” I shouted when I saw my brother nearly about to punch a tiny man in the face and before I could run over, Stephen did, grabbing Phoenix by the waist and hauling him toward me.

“You’re a fucking piece of shit!” Phoenix shouted, fighting against Stephen who refused to let go until the three of us were outside of the bar, “man don’t fucking touch me,” Phoenix finally broke free and shoved Stephen in the chest.

“Nix, stop it,” I stepped between them, grabbing his arm, “stop. Calm down.”

“Calm down? That guy was talking about you Hyacinth! He called you a freak.”

“I’m used to it,” shaking my head, I gently squeezed his arm, “people always call me a freak. Ugly. Weirdo. I’m used to it after hearing it my entire life, Nix. It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt me anymore because I know it’s not true. I’m Hyacinth and I’m a golden hearted person. A little damaged,” I rubbed the inside of my left arm and his gaze softened, “but I’m still a good person. People always look at me weird. I’m a weird looking person. But I don’t care. So you shouldn’t either. Thank you, for always coming to my defense. I appreciate that about you. But I’m an adult too, Nix. I don’t need saving anymore. Let people say what they want about me. It’s…” I looked up at Stephen for a moment before turning back to Phoenix, “it’s their loss.”

Phoenix slowly hugged me and I returned it, realizing just how angry he was by how tightly he was squeezing me, “I’m gonna go home. Do you want me to take you back?”

“No. It’s okay. I’ll walk. I need to clear my head.”

“Alright keep your phone on. Call me or Cove if anything happens. You know he’ll fly down here from work if you need him.”

“Mhm. I know. I’ll be home soon.”

“Right oh and uh,” he smiled at Stephen, holding his hand out, “thanks. I’m a teacher, I can’t really be seen fighting in bars.”

“All good,” Stephen laughed, shaking Phoenix's hand, “go cool your head.”

“Yeah. I will. Bye Cinny.”

“Bye,” I waved as Phoenix headed to his car and I watched him leave before swinging my arms, “huh.”

“What is it?” Stephen laughed, gently touching my arm.

“Normally I’d be scrambling to go home. How odd. Well. No reason to think about that. I don’t mind walking. I like it.”

“Can… I walk you home?”

“It’s across town. Isn’t your car here?”

“Nope. I don’t drive if I don’t have to. It makes me nervous. It’s why I bought a new salon here in Melba so I don’t have to drive. I’m getting it set up right now. So I really don’t mind walking you. That way I know you’re safe.”

“Um. Yeah. Okay,” with a nod, I started off in the direction of the shops, Stephen easily keeping pace with me, “Stephen?”

“It’s Stevie but yes.”

“Right, Stevie. What’s Georgia like?”

“Hot,” he laughed and I smiled, keeping my gaze on the ground, “but nice. I liked it there. More because I got to be close to my family than anything. My parents are amazing, mama was always home with us, taking care of everything around the house and making sure we were ready for school and stuff. Dad… is quiet. That’s the only way I can describe him. We aren’t close anymore. Not since… well since some stuff happened. But mama loves me so that’s all I care about.”

“That’s nice. I mean not… I…”

“It’s okay,” he shook his head, his hand bumping against mine, “no need to say anything.”

“I have two dads,” I started, trying to change the subject, “Sparrow and Thomas. And four granddads. But Phoenix is my only sibling. My parents had us young and decided that we were all they wanted.”

“How young?”

“20. My parents are only 43. Their birthdays are two days apart.”

“Oh wow they are young! My mama is 50 and my dad is… 60? I think.”

“What’s her name? Your mama.”

“Lucille. Lucy. My sisters are Dorothy, Dina, and Deanna. Then there’s me and Shane.”

“Wait there's 5 of you!” I gasped, making Stephen snort.

“Mhm. Well four. Shane is…”

“It seems like you want to tell me but can’t. Probably because we don’t know each other really well.”

“I’d like to. If… if you want to keep getting to know each other.”

“Well I…”

“If you don’t because of who you were telling me about then I can understand but five years is a long time, Hyacinth…”

“Yeah. I know,” I nodded, coming to a stop outside of the bookshop, “we’re here.”

“You live in a store?” he looked up confused before laughing, “oh you live above it! I can see your brother.”

“Yeah there’s a nice apartment up there that we share. We actually lived up there with our parents until we were three. But when I turned 20, I wanted to be on my own so I moved in up there. Phoenix and Cove moved in with me after college.”

“Well I’ll be close by,” he smiled, slowly spinning me and pointing to the empty building across the street, “I own that one now.”

“Oh that… is close,” I chewed my lip, “really close. You’ve seen me before haven't you?”

“Maybe.”

“Is that why you introduced yourself at the bar?”

“Maybe.”

“Oi!” Phoenix called from the window and we both looked up at him, “Hyacinth!”

“What, you idiot!” I shouted back.

“Ocean called.”

My heart leapt and I stood there staring at him, “when?”

“When I first got home. It… Hyacinth I am so sorry to tell you. He’s getting married. Invited us to the wedding.”

“Oh.”

“Sorry,” he pulled away and closed the window and I sat down on the steps in front of the shop, my head slamming against the door. Stephen took a seat next to me and we sat there quietly, my gaze fully on his shop across the street.

“Hyacinth?” Stephen gently touched my hand and I pulled away, “sorry. I just… I understand now what you meant. You love him. Don’t you?”

“Ocean? Yeah. I suppose I did. Or thought I did. Years of being side by side, lots of loss and pain… he was always there. Him and Cove. Well Ocean was always the one I was close to but… he kissed me when we were teenagers and I panicked and smacked him because he did it without asking. It was my first kiss. He supported my writing. Worked next to me in the bookshop for years. We were close and I realized I had feelings for him when I was 12. So I… I thought that… we would be like Phoenix and Cove. Finally admit how we felt and be together. I waited for him.”

“Well yeah. You told me you did.”

“No I don’t think you understand, Stevie. I waited for him. I never dated. Never kissed anyone. None of it. Ocean promised me he would come home to me at our graduation before he left. That as soon as he graduated college… Now that everything was fixed he would come back and we would be together then. So I…”

“The dedication is beautiful,” Stephen smiled and I leaned my head on his arm, “I would kill to find someone so dedicated to waiting for me. But don’t take it as him forgetting or tossing you aside. He clearly fell in love with someone and couldn’t resist. The crap part is him not telling you. He should have been honest. Should have told you to stop waiting and move on because he did. I am so sorry, Hyacinth.”

“It’s not your fault,” I wiped my nose on my sleeve, “I’m just foolish.”

“No you want to be loved and thought that you had that. We all have our heart-” he was interrupted by his phone ringing and groaned, grabbing it from his pocket and quickly answering on speaker, “Dorothy? What happened?”

“Max… Max is sick and he won’t stop vomiting and I don’t… Max? Max… no baby just… I…”

“Call an ambulance,” I cut in, “is he breathing?”

“No,” she cried, “no he’s choking on his vomit.”

“Stevie, he’s one?” I looked up at him and he nodded, his eyes wide with panic, “okay. Put it on speaker, Dorothy, and set the phone down. Stevie, use my phone and call 911. Send them to your house,” I took his phone after handing him mine and he did as I asked, “one fist on his stomach, Dorothy, just above his belly button. Put your other hand over it and push five times. Not hard enough to break anything but enough to have pressure. It forces the air from his lungs and should dislodge the vomit. Don’t do mouth to mouth. It’ll just force the vomit back down. I’ll count okay? Ready?”

“Mhm,” Dorothy's voice was filled with tears but I did my best to stay calm as I knew what to do to help.

“Good. Okay,” I started counting, getting to five, “anything?”

“No.”

“Try again. Don’t stop trying until paramedics get there. I promise he’ll-” I was interrupted by the squealing cry of a baby, “there we go! Roll him on his side just a little and use your fingers to scoop the vomit out. Not too deep, you don’t want to damage his throat.”

“R… right,” she sniffled and I could hear shuffling, Maddox’s cry a welcome relief to know he was breathing, “his mouth is clear. He looks okay. He’s not blue anymore.”

“Wonderful. You did really well.”

“Who… who are you?”

“My name is Hyacinth. I’m… a friend of Stevie’s. We just happen to be together right now and I knew what to do. I’m so glad Maddox is okay.”

“The paramedic’s are here. Stevie, you’ll need to come to the hospital, you’re his dad.”

“R… right I’ll be right there. I have to rush to get my car though,” Stephen was crying gently and I shook my head after catching his gaze before jumping up and letting out three sharp whistles. Phoenix immediately popped his head out of the window in response.

“What?”

“Get your keys. We’re going to Saint Joseph’s.”

“Is Dad or Pa hurt?”

“No. But Stevie’s son is and we need a ride.”

“Oh fuck I’ll be right down!” Phoenix slammed the window shut and I squatted down in front of Stephen, taking one of his hands in my own.

“Hey. Look at me,” I whispered and Stephen finally did as I asked, his eyes damp, “he’s okay. Dorothy saved him. He’s going to be fine. I promise.”

“I… are you coming with me?”

“Well I suppose I should. No one should be alone when their baby is in the hospital. I’ll have Phoenix drop us off for now and text my Pa. Tell him I won’t be at work tomorrow. He’ll understand. So come on,” I pulled Stephen up as Phoenix came from around the building in his car, “let’s get to the hospital.”

“Thank you,” Stephen whispered and we climbed into the vehicle.

“Did you forget I was still on the phone?” Dorothy huffed, “I’m going in the ambulance with Max. He’s angry but okay. I promise.”

“I believe you,” Stephen hung up and laid his head against the seat, “thanks… You two are real nice.”

“I’m not,” Phoenix snorted, “but I do anything Cinn asks of me. Plus, I care about kids. I love them. So I wouldn’t deprive a father of being there for his kid. Didn’t think you were in a relationship. Flirting with my sibling and all.”

“Oh I’m not seeing anyone. No. I adopted Maddox from my brother. He was gonna be placed in foster care and I couldn’t let that happen. He looks more like me anyway. So my nephew became my son a few months ago. I’m not really sure how to do any of this but I’m trying. He’s nearly one actually. Sorry, Hyacinth. I lied. His birthday is in a month though…”

“He’s close enough to one that the CPR I had Dorothy do would have been the same,” I squeezed his shoulder from my spot in the backseat before something Phoenix had said hit me and I froze, “wait. Flirting with me?”

“Oh my God,” Phoenix groaned and Stephen’s entire face went red, “you’re so innocent it’s disgusting.”

“I fucking hate you, Phoenix.”

“I love you too, oh angelic little sibling of mine.”

“Stop calling me little!”

“Jesus you’re feisty,” Stephen snorted.

“They broke Ocean’s eye socket when we were 16 because Ocean touched them during one of Hyacinth’s bad days,” Phoenix laughed and I smacked the back of his head, “ow! Bitch.”

“Don’t tell people that I still feel bad.”

“Well he fucked it up by kissing you without asking that same night. I beat the shit out of him for it before I fucked his… well uh…”

“Stop it, we have such a weird history with the Palakiko family. No more. I…”

“I know,” Phoenix looked at me in the mirror as we reached the hospital, “I think this is why Cove was telling you to go out and meet someone. He knew, I think.”

“If he did, I'm breaking his eye too.”

“No you’re not,” Stephen smiled, climbing out before opening the door for me, “nothing gets solved with violence. Phoenix?”

“Hm?”

“Thank you. For bringing me here.”

“No worries. Cinn if you need a ride home, call Cove. I have to get to bed now.”

“I know,” I smiled, “I’ll call Pa or Dad when I need a ride back or something. Cove will need his rest. Love you.”

“Love you.”

Phoenix left and I followed Stephen into the hospital, playing with the strap of my bag as he looked around, clearly confused.

“Stevie!” A gentle voice called and a young woman that was nearly identical to him came running over, tossing her arms around his waist, “I am so sorry!”

“It’s okay, Doe,” he kissed the top of her head, “is Max okay?”

“He should be. They’re looking him over now. Oh,” she noticed me and smiled brightly, “oh my god you’re beautiful.”

“Huh? Oh thank you,” I nodded, my cheeks pink, “my name is-”

“Hyacinth Williams. I know.”

“How? We barely talked on the phone…”

“I bought your books. They’re amazing!”

“Oh… well uh… thanks,” I smiled, kicking at the ground, “that’s always nice to hear.”

“But you look different than the back cover…”

“Ah…”

Shit.

Now I have to explain the fact I’m non-binary to a stranger.

I did it earlier.

I can do it now.